Illinois governor unveils "bold" plan to save pensions

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Illinois would shore up its sagging public employment retirement system under a plan outlined on Friday by Governor Pat Quinn that gives workers a choice between higher contributions and lower benefits.

With pension funding absorbing more and more of the state's budget, Quinn said his "bold" plan would save taxpayers $65 billion to $85 billion over 30 years and help stop a further fall in the state's relatively low credit ratings.

Illinois' unfunded pension liability has grown to a huge $83 billion after the state for years skimped on funding. In fiscal 2013, which begins July 1, the state's payment into the pension system will hit $5.2 billion or 15 percent of general revenue spending -- up substantially from 6 percent in 2008, according to the governor's office.

Quinn, a Democrat, said his plan would leave the system, which covers state, local school, university and community college employees, 100 percent funded by 2042. Without it, he said Illinois will have expected payments totaling nearly $310 billion between 2012 and 2045, when a $32.7 billion unfunded liability would still remain.

"This plan rescues our pension system and allows public employees who have faithfully contributed to the system to continue to receive pension benefits," he said.

Under the proposal, workers' pension contributions would increase by 3 percent, while cost-of-living adjustments would be reduced. A retirement age of 67 would also be phased in.

Employees who accept the plan, which would need legislative approval, would continue to have their pay increases counted in their pension calculations and would receive a state subsidy for healthcare in retirement. Those workers who don't accept the plan, will not receive those benefits, Quinn said, adding he expected at least 75 percent of the workers to choose his plan.

Quinn's also called for schools, colleges and universities to eventually assume pension costs for their workers.

Illinois is under the gun to fix its ailing pension system as the state continues a $43 billion, partly bond-financed capital program aimed at improving infrastructure and generating jobs, he added.

"It's important when we issue our bonds that there is confidence and decent ratings," he said.

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services on Friday affirmed Illinois' A-plus rating with a negative outlook, warning a downgrade could be triggered "if pension funding levels continue to deteriorate and the state makes no credible progress in addressing the liability."

"Furthermore, we could also lower the rating by more than one notch if there is no progress on structural budget solutions and if Illinois does not address the significant pension liabilities and associated cost pressure," S&P said in a statement.

On Thursday, Quinn began tackling another huge drag on the state's finances -- Medicaid, the healthcare program for the poor -- that has fueled a structural deficit as the state delays paying bills owed to providers.

When he unveiled his fiscal 2013, $33.7 billion general funds budget in February, Quinn put the Democratic-controlled legislature on notice that they have to address both Medicaid and pensions during their current session, which ends May 31.